Anand Nataraj

Posts Tagged ‘coimbatore’

Madas day is happening and I’m proud to be the son of a city which has a great History. But I’ve been thinking how did I feel when i went to 3 other cities and what was my first take about the city. Here goes my perception;

Bangalore: First i visited the city when i was 8 years old and that too for a day. I hardly remember much about that experience. But later I went to this city when i was 17 years old after completing my schooling. My father took me there for vacation. Right from the beginning i got excited;

• I saw a very clean & planned city.
• Saw pretty girls who were modernly dressed again unlike Chennai (then, now Chennai is much better than Bangalore ).
• Saw couples smooching on public places (Sadly this is controlled these days).
• Lots of pubs unlike Chennai.
• A enviable night life.
• A pleasant climate.
• Lot of hotels.

All the above were new for me then because Chennai was considered very conservative them. I even considered getting settled in Bangalore. But today Chennai has caught up with all the points i specified & Bangalore has fallen down. Also Bangalore has become a victim of mass urbanization and it has lost its charm. Anyways I consider Bangalore to be my second home town as I’ve a house there and Chennai – Bangalore being very proximate I don’t get the feel that it is a different city.

Madurai: There is nothing much to talk about this City. The day I entered the city it was dirty, unruly & zero entertainment. I felt very lonely for the first three months as I didn’t have any other place other than Cafe Coffee Day. I’ve never intended to stay there as that was not the place for me. But I owe a lot to this City as it helped me to come back from all the pains cause during 2008. Year 2010 has been more happening for this city and there are lots of joints and brands falling in this city & today it gives tough fight with Cities like Chennai or Bangalore. These days i enjoy visiting this city.

Coimbatore: My first visit to this city was 2 years back and I was really carried away. Like Bangalore i got a liking towards this city on first sight. Things excited me;

• Posh houses & cosmopolitan lifestyle.
• Pretty Girls but culture abiding.
• Less traffic.
• Good Climate.
• Nice Business environment.

I want to get settled here if this place doesn’t become another Bangalore.

Yesterday was a hectic & frustrating day;

- Slept long & reached to board meeting by 12.30
- Then had a nice board meeting.
- Then thought of video blogging & got free installation & integration of VBlog from Contus Support.
- Thought of publishing my first video blog but was unable do it in hurry.
- Rains spoiled the road & made it unwalkable.
- Caught a rick to board the bus.
- From there the nightmare started.
- The bus took a long route to Coimbatore.
- The route was full of pits and we were thrown up & down. Until we reached Erode we had a bumpy ride & was unable to sleep.

Though I enjoy such unexpected experiences. I was in a bad mood to enjoy it this time. But finally reached Coimbatore & started planning to chill out the bad mood.

My original plan after my tour of Alleppey was to get back to Madurai and then return to Chennai. But i was scared of Laxman’s driving and i decided to get back to Chennai directly as i had a company with Rooban. So this is what happened;

• We had no bus from Alleppey but there was a train by 4 PM. Rooban assumed it would be full and he suggested going to Cochin will give us more options.
• We boarded a Bus to Cochin with was one and half hour drive from Alleppey.
• Cochin was hot but was very nice city with was calm & had all attributes of a city.
• We got down and went to a place called M.G.Road which was a shopping area having lots of Big shopping centers.
• The same road had offices of many Private bus operators office & all the busses to Chennai were full.
• Then we took another auto and went to government bus-stand. Here all busses to Chennai have already left. Also bus to Pondycherry was full.
• Then we took an auto and went to Railway station only to find all trains running full.
• Then again came back to Government Bus-stop.
• Only choice was to board a bus to Coimbatore and the choice were a Trivandrum – Coimbatore bus which was about to come by 4.30 & a bus to Coimbatore from Cochin by 5.30.
• Since it was 3 o clock we had to wait till 4.30 & all bus had route names in malayalam and things were again confusing.
• Still bus to Coimbatore hasn’t arrived and we decided to board a bus to Tirupur and thought of boarding a bus to Coimbatore from there.
• When we sat we got an announcement telling Trivandaram – Coimbatore bus has arrived and we were lucky to get a cramped last seat.
• We had a hectic bumpy journey and we travelled through Tirupur – Palakkad & finally reached Coimbatore by 11 PM.
• Coimbatore is a place which doesn’t have a night life. Even second show movies starts by 8.30. Hotels gets closed by 10 PM.
• All bus to Chennai have left & again we had to work on options.
• We had a choice of leaving to our relatives house and start the next day. But i didn’t want to do that because the hard travel from Alleppey will become useless.
• We were lucky to get a cramped Mini bus which was overly dumped and no space to even stretch our legs.
• We had to immediately board the bus and we have no time to have dinner too.
• Then after 2 hours of drive driver stopped to have some tea and there i had a Maaza and we started again.
• Finally the bus reached Chennai by 9.30 AM.

Finally reached Chennai after a hectic travel for 21 consecutive hour. All this was possible only because of the the Ayurvedic Massage i had in Alleppey which kept my body cool.

Last week it was the end of month long agony with bureaucrats. There is a common phenomenon with bureaucrats.

1. They are lazy.
2. They never accountability.
3. They are irresponsible.
4. They are corrupt and crocked.
5. They won’t offer information on one go. Eg: Every time we make a visit they send us back telling one correction or other.

Over all for a work which should not have taken more than 3 days took 25 days to finish it. But the experience gained in phenomenal. I had two types on experience in Coimbatore & Bangalore.

• One place i was not allowed to deal from the top and i was totally not accessible with the concerned person in the top.
• Second place i was asked to deal with the Top directly.

In my experience both as challenging. In one case we can proceed with the work without having any one to deal with. In second case dealing from the Top expensive. So this is how i dealt with Case 1.

• I met the Professional Tax Officer on second day and he took the documents and he didn’t give me his phone number.
• Then again he was not approachable in office.
• Then i caught hold of the Peon who gave me all information and called the officer everything i visited their office or gave me updates on the progress when i called him from Chennai.

Over all job got over after 15 days because of Bureaucratic delays and after constant followups. Totally i spent Rs.80/- for the peon for his help. I cant consider this as Bribe because he helped me for a job which was not his responsibility and for picking calls and linking with the concerned officer. Here Bottom-up approach helped.

Then in Case 2.

• Officer was always available in Office.
• Was directly dealing with the Department Head.
• Bribe insisted was Huge.
• We denied to offer bribe and we paid the entire penalty.
• I was made to run everyday asking for more details / information / document.

Finally PTO said he can’t give me the certificate without giving him some Professional Fee (This is the term he uses for Bribe) and finally i had to bow down and make him some Professional Fee. I was deeply upset because PTO made me run to his office at least 11 times and i produced all nonsense information he requested and finally ending up paying him a bribe.

I behaved like a common man standing helpless and bow down to business pressure. Let me see when all this will change?

I’ve been slogging for last 3 weeks to finish the registration and remittance of Professional Tax for a big client of CCS. Today I got the receipt for PT remittance and Professional Tax Number for Coimbatore which my uncle collected and couriered to me.

Also much awaited Bangalore is also done. Today I got the Professional Tax Number but the officer denied to handover the certificate to me as he wanted to meet the bank’s branch manager.

So my stay here goes prolonged for one more day. Now only Salem is pending and I don’t know how long it is going to take.

CCS has won a deal from subsidiary of one of the largest bank in India which takes care of back end processing of the bank. The work is to register and remit their Professional Tax in Chennai, Salem, Coimbatore & Bangalore. Having our presence in Chennai Bala finished all the work there. Now we had a problem in remitting & registering it in other cities. Engaging a consultant will not make sense as we have signed a confidentiality agreement and also having a consultant means shrinking of our margin. So we were forced to send one of our team members. That is when I thought why I shouldn’t try doing it myself as; 

1. I have experience in Registering and Remitting Professional Tax with my previous company.
2. I can save lodging cost as I’ve my relatives in all cities. Where in if we send a team member we have to bare the lodging cost.
3. Our team members are loaded with work and sending them out of city will effectively mean we are delaying other tasks.
4. I like to explore new things and I wanted to get a feel of it.

So I felt I decided and when I said I can do it Bala was initially hesitant. He felt a CEO need not do all these things. I told him that there is no written rule that a CEO need not get down and work. When I listed the above mentioned points he got convinced.

I thought I can finish Coimbatore first and then Salem on 30/09/2009 & 01/10/2009 respectively and finish Bangalore next week. Sadly my work didn’t get over in Coimbatore today courtesy to Indian Bureaucrats.  So, these are my experience; 

• Went to Corporation office only to learn that they have different office for different wards and I had to go to a different place. But they clearly gave the name of contact person and place.
• South Zone office was not too far from Corporation Office. Reached South Zone office only to fine all the concerned officer are on rounds and were expected only by evening. I was asked to come back by 4 o clock.
• Then came back home and took a nice nap as I was deprived of good sleep last two nights.
• Slept by 11.30 AM and got up by 3:30 PM and by the time I reached the bus stop it was 4 o clocks and I thought for a min that I must take an auto. Then my intuition said Bureaucrats will not be perfect.
• My intuition was right. Reached South Zone office by 4:30 only to find concerned officer was not there.
• Then checked with his colleagues about the formalities and ended up getting confused. There were two Circular which had Revised Tax details. We have made calculations with one Circular information and the other stated the slabs got revised 6 months back. Ironically they themselves didn’t have a clue when I asked which is valid.
• Finally the concerned person reached his office by 6 o clock and he got all the documents and asked me to come same time tomorrow. When I said I’m from Chennai and I had a booking back to Chennai. He showed me a sad face expression he was helpless. I can understand no it was the end of the day and he has to leave.
• Over all nothing happened as per my plan and this is common with Indian Bureaucracy. But I was happy with two things;

1. Climate was good and waiting for long was not difficult.
2. In culture coimbatorians are very polite. I’ve never seen Bureaucrats answering with polite tone.

With all these experience I had to close my day one assuming I might finish this job by tomorrow. Also I was called by the officer by 5:30 PM tomorrow and I don’t have any concrete work till them thought I can engage myself. Until them please prey the almighty to keep the office in good mood & see to it that he is in office (as next three days are holidays)…

I started my vagabond trips from Saturday and I decided to start it from Coimbatore. I boarded a local bus from Madurai by 6 PM on Saturday and reached Coimbatore by 11PM. I slept that night in my uncle’s house and woke up by 10 o clock. Then there as a discussion on which place to go and my aunty suggested Lingam temple in Isha Foundation at Velliangiri Hills. Instead I wanted to vit palakad for a long time and my aunty said we can goto MeenKulathi Amman temple. We freezed the spot and we started by 12 noon.

Kerala is just 20 KM from Coimbatore and immediately touching Kerala’s border we felt the difference. The place is pitch green and we non-stop South-West monsoon welcomed us. Then I drove enjoying the greenery, rain on the nicely laid highway roads.

On reaching Palakad my uncle called his colleague to know the rout to temple and while calling him we can to know temple opens only by 5.30 PM. Having no choice we had to accept the invitation of my uncle’s colleague to visit his house which is a village some 25 KM from Palakad and 7 KM from temple.

En route to his house from Palakad I got startled by seeing the nature’s gift this Gods Own Country has which was Full of greenery, water ways, ponds and beautiful houses.

Then reached my uncles colleagues house which has a pond right behind his house and a scenic view of multiple falls which flows from the hills of Nelliyampthi. It seems Nelliyampthi is a nice Hill Station which is still not famous and I’m planning for a visit there soon. Then spoke to Mr. Colleague’s father who was talking about their Tamil roots and how they migrated to Kerala.

Then it was 5.30 and we decided to goto temple and Mr. Colleague accompanied. He took us to a Big Vishnu temple in his village named Karchamkurrissi temple. It was a big Kerala style Vishnu temple in his village named Karchamkurrissi temple. It was a big Kerala style templeand I was not allowed because enter I had to wear a dhoti.

Then we went to MeenKulathi Amman temple which too had same rituals of wearing a Dothi and I brought a dothi and had a good darshan in a wonderful temple.Then I returned  back to coimbatore with a thirst to vsit the place again and with cherishing memories. I took somesnaps which I’ll update soon.

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)  and MPower Business Facilitators Limited present the National Conference on “Survival & Growth Strategies in Changing Business Scenario” on April 11, 2009 at Coimbatore. We are expecting around 400 delegates including 100 CEOs (of that 62 are already registered as of now), 150 senior managers, 50 academicians of premier instituties and 100 students.   And above all, the CEOs of leading companies of India who are making good business even in the recession will be there to share their success stories.

 

We will be glad to offer you the following sponsorship options:

 

Associate Partner

 

Investment: Rs.25,000 only

 

Benefits: We will benefit  you with the facility of displaying  your company’s name in our official website. We will put your companies literature as a part of Delegates Kit and at the last of the conference, we will also announce your Companies name as a thanking to be our associate partners with recognition of sponsorship on a sign at the entrance to the function.

 

Event Partner

 

Investment: Rs.3,00,000 only

 

 

Benefits: We will benefit you with the facility of your company with the logo of your company on the backdrop which will be visible in main conference hall.

 

Your company’s name and logo will be visible on the delegate kits cover which will be provided to delegates as materials to refer in conference.

 

A banner of your company is displayed at venue and we will display your company’s name in our official website.

 

Your company also receives the chance of prominent visibility throughout the conference with the opportunity to nominate speaker for the session.

 

With this your company’s literature will be put in delegate’s kit.

 

We will also be providing you with the facility to put stall of your company in the place around where the conference will be held.

 

At last of the conference we will also announce your company’s name as thanking to be our Event partners with recognition of sponsorship on a sign at the entrance to the function.

 

Kiosk/Stall Partner

 

Investment: Rs.1,50,000 only

 

Benefits: We will benefit you with the facility of a placing your company logo & name in the banner which will be displayed at venue

 

We will display your company’s name on our official website through this our delegates get to know about your partnership in the event.

 

We will be providing you with the space to put stall of your company in the place around where the conference will be held and this will give your company a chance to exhibit your product and services.

 

At last of the conference we will also announce your company’s name as thanking to be our Kiosk partners with recognition of sponsorship on a sign at the entrance to the function.

 

 

Session sponsor

 

Investment: Rs.1,00,000 only

 

Benefits: We will benefit you with the facility in which we will display your name in our official website.

 

Your company being a session partner will also get an opportunity to nominate speaker for the session you will be sponsoring who will be speaking on the topic of session.

 

With this your company’s literature will be put in delegate’s kit.

 

At last of the conference we will also announce your company’s name as thanking to be our event partners with recognition of sponsorship on a sign at the entrance to the function.

 

For more details contact;

 

Aparna Raman

Executive- Corporate Learning Solutions.

 

MPower Business Facilitators Limited

B 204, Pratik Indl Estate,

Near Wockhardt Hospital,

Mulund-Goregoan Link Road,

Mumbai – 78.

Tel: 022-25662656/5726

Today I’m proud to be with Mr.Nandakumar, Founder Ndot… Nanda is a budding entrepreneur with lots of business ideas and passion for technology… Let us get more from horse mouth…

Q. Hello Nanda. First of all tell us about yourself?

A. I’m a cool guy, much interested in advanced internet technologies.

Q. When & how did your entrepreneur desire started & evolved?

A. In the beginning I was inspired by Microsoft Bill gates and wanted to run a big firm like him. Name “N.” was taken in my college days itself. But did nothing big till 2006. My inspiration is my Dad, he chosen different path in our village, still learning so many things from him.

Q. Tell us how Ndot took shape?

A. Well, I started it to focus on Social Media solution. We started “N.” with 3 guys. Currently we have employee base of 9 for providing solutions to many clients. Our main aim is not to deliver the code like a web company. We should deliver the result, co-create & provide options.

Q. Tell the challenges you faced (Pre formation & post formation)?

A. First of all we had initial investment of 0, We reinvested the revenues to make our company grow. Challenge we faced and facing is Cash Flow. And I can say that will be the biggest thing for every (startup) company. I had few failure startups before “N.”, learned so many things from those failure with which I gained expertise in business & Social Media.

Q. Tell us about Ndot’s business model?

A. Our business model is totally based on Products & services ( Both mostly on Social Media ). We also have our own startup stuff, which will be our unique thing.

Q. Tell us about Ndot’s services & products?

A.  We providing services & solutions in Social Networking, Business solution for social media. Currently we are developing 2 to 3 products. We developed our own social networking framework to make our development very faster. Also we plan to launch that application as Opensource soon.

Q. Do you feel the impact of recession? How do you plan to overcome this recession?

A. Impact, actually no, sometimes I feel when I don’t have good cash flow. Don’t have plans to overcome, but reading lots of books/articles/news. I don’t want to think about recession when working, I feel there are lots of opportunities to crack. Economic downturn, there are lot of problems in the economy. That means for an entrepreneur there are lots of new opportunities are available to solve. Recession needs us.

Q. What are your future plans?

A. We will rock the web One day. Have good future scope on semantic & AI web, and started focusing on it. Working on educational startup, aim to release soon.

Q. What is your advice for new startups and wannabe entrepreneurs?

A. Make sure everyone have good cash flow every month. Do some services side, to make your company for long run. Keep running with your concept side by side, which is going to make you unique.

=====> End of interview <=====

Thank you very much Nanda for sparing your valuable time with us and it was really inspiring to be with you. Your answers were really inspiring and motivation… I’m sure this interview will kindly the egos of many wannabe entrepreneurs and will make them jump into the world of entrepreneurship…

We wish you all the very best for your initiatives and wish to see Ndot a major force when it comes to Social networking or education or retail…

Last week I was in Ndot office… I was immediately carried away by the way a his office was, it took me 9 years back how I got started… It is always fun to be associated with startups… Their energy, enthusiasm, speed at which they work is all worth a watch from far…

I don’t know if Nanda founder of Ndot took time in recoding the environment he has today… I missed doing that and can only cherish them all alone by telling how it looked… I didn’t want Nanda to feel the same when he becomes big…

Here are some of the snaps I shot last week in his office…

On entering Ndot office we reach this very energetic team…

That is Nanda, founder Ndot…

Another enthusiastic folks…